| CBJ | PHI | |
|---|---|---|
| 16-13-4 | ROAD / HOME | 15-11-7 |
| 3.15 | GOALS FOR | 2.80 |
| 3.17 | GOALS AGAINST | 3.08 |
| 20.3% | POWER PLAY | 15.5% |
| 77.1% | PENALTY KILL | 78.0% |
| 30.0 | SHOTS FOR | 25.2 |
| 29.6 | SHOTS AGAINST | 25.7 |
| 50.4% | FACEOFF % | 48.8% |
| FLYERS: LAST THREE GAMES | ||
| MON, 3/9 | vs. Rangers | L, 6-2 |
| WED, 3/11 | vs. Capitals | W, 4-1 |
| THU, 3/12 | @ Wild | SOW, 3-2 |
| FLYERS: TEAM LEADERS | ||
| GOALS | Travis Konecny | 24 |
| ASSISTS | Travis Konecny | 34 |
| POINTS | Travis Konecny | 58 |
| ODDS & PROJECTIONS | ||
| CBJ WIN PER MONEYPUCK: | 57% | |
| CBJ ODDS PER DRAFTKINGS: | -122 | |
Every game matters more from here out.
Especially the divisional battles.
The Columbus Blue Jackets (33-21-11) wrap up a three-game road trip Saturday night with a Metro clash against the Philadelphia Flyers (31-23-11).
The Blue Jackets entered Saturday a single point behind the second wild card spot (BOS), and two points behind the first wild card spot (DET), as well as second and third place in the Metro (PIT/NYI).
But nipping at their heels are the Flyers, who are just four points behind Columbus in the standings with the same number of games played.
The Blue Jackets 4-0-4 run over their last eight games has given them not only their longest point streak this season, but their longest since they had a 10-game run in a streak that ended Feb. 7, 2020.
To continue to march towards the postseason, they'll need to keep that going.
Here are five things to know before the 7:30 p.m. puck-drop:
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Daniel Vladar starts for Philadelphia in this one. In his first season with the Flyers, Vladar is 21-11-6 as a starter with a 2.50 goals against average and .904 save percentage. He stopped 21 of 23 shots Thursday night in Philly's shootout win against the Minnesota Wild. ... Flyers' games don't usually get many shots: Philadelphia ranks 30th in shots on goal per game (25.2) and 4th in shots on goal allowed per game (25.7). ... The Flyers have allowed a power play goal in all six games they've played in March, killing penalties at only a 61.9% clip.
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Jet Greaves starts for Columbus. It'll be his first time in net since allowing five goals in Monday's overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Greaves is 20-12-8 in decisions this year with a 2.69 goals against average and .907 save percentage, but ranks 10th in the NHL in goals against average above expected, out of a total of 48 goalies with 25+ games.
-
Columbus has allowed just 34 shots on goals in regulation over their last two games, giving up 18 to the Tampa Bay Lightning and just 16 to the Florida Panthers (the Panthers added five in overtime). A testament to their defensive commitment.
-
After being a healthy scratch in three straight games, Dmitri Voronkov was in the lineup Thursday night and skated a total of 10:18 on the fourth line, registering a hit in that time but playing a physical game and using his frame to his advantage in several instances. Still, head coach Rick Bowness said Voronkov will go back to being a healthy scratch in this game.
- With Voronkov out, Danton Heinen draws back in and will play on the fourth line with Isac Lundeström and Boone Jenner. Defensively, Erik Gudbranson appears to be in line to return after missing the last two games with an injury, but Bowness said he'll be a game-time decision. If he's out, look for Jake Christiansen to take his place. Here are the complete projections:
| LW | C | RW | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Cole Sillinger | 19 | Adam Fantilli | 86 | Kirill Marchenko |
| 91 | Kent Johnson | 23 | Sean Monahan | 83 | Conor Garland |
| 17 | Mason Marchment | 3 | Charlie Coyle | 24 | Mathieu Olivier |
| 21 | Isac Lundeström | 38 | Boone Jenner | 43 | Danton Heinen |
| LD | RD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Zach Werenski | 15 | Dante Fabbro |
| 9 | Ivan Provorov | 5 | Denton Mateychuk |
| 78 | Damon Severson | 44 | Erik Gudbranson |
| Starting Goalie | Back-Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | Jet Greaves | 90 | Elvis Merzlikins |
